LUSAS Composite - Software Tour

Software Tour

Analysis software for composites engineering

LUSAS
Composite contains a comprehensive range of unrivalled
engineering analysis facilities to cater for all types of composite
design. From simple failure prediction using a number of failure
criteria including Tsai-Hill, Hoffman and Tsai-Wu through to
advanced delamination failure modelling, LUSAS Composite
will help shorten your design and checking times giving reliable
results every time.

Regarded as a leader in engineering
analysis, LUSAS Composite is rich in powerful and advanced
features to meet your analysis needs and extend your design
capabilities.

By using the unrivalled
state-of-the-art element libraries and material models of LUSAS Composite
a host of composite engineering problems can be solved.

Built-in associativity ensures
that if the model geometry is amended, all assigned loadings,
supports and other attributes are automatically moved to suit.

A software key system means that you
can call us at any time for a key to unlock these powerful options
so that you can tackle new analyses straightaway.

LUSAS Composite offers a
quicker and simpler way than ever before to define composite lay-ups
independent of the component to be analysed. The properties of each
laminate are defined in a table and each layer given a unique name
for use in results processing - extremely useful where ply drop off
occurs. A lay-up icon provides a useful visual check before the
lay-up is automatically assigned to the underlying geometry. These
unique lay-up procedures dramatically reduce the chance of errors.

Because composite components have
different failure characteristics to non-composite components and
are often a complex combination of materials, they pose unique
analysis problems. The use of traditional modelling techniques for
composites can be prohibitively expensive due to the large number of
elements required. Whilst some analysis systems allow laminate
properties to be integrated together to form an homogeneous material
matrix, such systems can only predict failure with a linear
analysis. To model failure correctly, and to assess the residual
strength, nonlinear analysis with LUSAS Composite is
necessary in which the individual laminate behaviour is modelled.

In addition to shell elements, the
LUSAS 3D solid composite element reduces the model size by allowing
a number of laminates to be modelled by a single element. Where
complex 3D components are built from a number of composite blocks
butted together LUSAS Composite can be used to
automatically generate constraint equations to tie dissimilar meshes
together. This powerful facility can also be used to provide rapid
mesh grading of elements in high stress areas giving you faster
solution times. In addition, linear and nonlinear modelling of
adjacent laminates is possible, allowing you to analyse mixed
material lay-ups.

The Hashin composite damage model has
been implemented to model matrix/fibre failure in composite
materials. The model can be used with the LUSAS solid composite
elements. A set of failure criteria have been used to represent
fibre and matrix failure. These failure criteria result in a
degradation of the Youngs modulus, shear modulus and Poissons
ratio where the damage has occurred. Unlike the composite failure
criteria, matrix failure modelling can model progressive failure
using a nonlinear analysis.

Both 2D and 3D composite delamination
interface elements are used in LUSAS Composite. These
elements enable composite delaminations to be modelled using an
incremental nonlinear analysis. Interface elements are embedded into
the finite element model and assigned delamination properties using
a nonlinear material model. If the strength exceeds the strength
threshold value in the opening or tearing directions the material
properties of the interface element are reduced linearly as defined
by the material parameters and complete failure is assumed to have
occurred when the fracture energy is exceeded. No initial crack is
inserted so the interface elements can be placed in the model at
potential delamination sites where they will lie dormant until
failure occurs.

LUSAS Composite has superior
nonlinear problem solving capabilities.

Powerful facilities for geometric,
material and boundary nonlinearity are available for problems
involving large deformations, plasticity and collapse.

Fully automatic load
incrementation, automatic recovery from convergence failure and
restart features are all designed to enable newcomers to
nonlinear analysis to quickly become proficient in solving a
wide variety of nonlinear problems.

For low or high speed impact and
contact problems, contacting elements are automatically detected and
specially developed slidelines and slidesurfaces handle
the interaction that takes place at contacting regions greatly
simplifying your analyses in 2D or 3D.

Model information can be exchanged
with a wide range of CAD systems using industry standard exchange
formats such as IGES and DXF, as well as directly with specific CAD
systems using proprietary data exchange formats.

Contact Lusas

Other products and services from Lusas

LUSAS HPM software can accurately predict the distortion of laminated composite parts during manufacture and provide reverse engineered surfaces to create "right first time" tooling.
With the use of accurately calculated master and tooling surfaces it is anticipated that the cost and time required to assemble composite components could be greatly reduced.

The underlying finite element technology enables the true behaviour of structures to be accurately modelled for either global analyses of complete structures or local analyses of parts of structures such as a complex connection detail.

Because all levels of the products use the same user interface and terminology, training costs can be minimised and users can be introduced to LUSAS at the most appropriate level for the work they need to do.
There is also full data compatibility across the product range allowing easy migration of a model to a more advanced analysis when required without any data conversion or remodelling.

With curved girder structures significant torsional stresses must be accounted for at the design stage and careful consideration is also required to ensure their safe erection.
In the USA the use of curved girder bridges has steadily increased year by year and is now estimated to represent 25 percent or more of the entire steel bridge market.

Model and results files created in a higher product version can be opened for viewing or editing in a lower product version provided the model contains only those elements and analysis options supported by the lower version.
LUSAS Bridge software is available in 3 software product versions with additional software options available for purchase to meet your particular needs.

Model and results files created in a higher product version can be opened for viewing or editing in a lower product version provided the model contains only those elements and analysis options supported by the lower version.
LUSAS Civil & Structural software is available in 3 software product versions with additional software options available for purchase to meet your particular needs.